Hair clip

ABSTRACT

A hair clip includes first and second coupling members. An engaging member and a guide member are provided on an inner face of the second clamping member. A spacing between the guide member and the first section of the engaging member is equal to a width of a coupling portion on an end of the first clamping member. The guide member includes an inclined surface having increasing spacings to the engaging member toward a top of the guide member. When the first clamping member is moved to a closed position, a lateral side of the coupling portion abuts against and slides along the inclined surface into a space defined by the engaging member, and the coupling portion is received between the engaging member and the guide member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair clip and, more particularly, to a hair clip providing improved engaging effect and improved hair clamping stability while allowing easy removal of the hair clip.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typical hair clips can be opened to receive hair of a user and then closed to clamp the hair. Some hair clips include a spring to provide enhanced hair clamping effect by the resiliency of the spring. However, the spring results an increase in the costs and is liable to rust and to be damaged.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a conventional hair clip including two clamping members 1′ and 2′ pivotably coupled together at first ends thereof. An engaging member 11′ in the form of a hook is provided on a second end of the clamping member 1′. An engaging hole 21′ is provided in a second end of the clamping member 2′. The hair clip provides a hair clamping effect when the engaging member 11′ is engaged in the engaging hole 21′. However, it is difficult to disengage the engaging member 11′ from the engaging hole 21′ by operating the small, distal end 111′ of the engaging member 11′.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show another conventional hair clip including two clamping members 3′ and 4′ pivotably coupled together at first ends thereof. An engaging member 31′ is formed on a second end of the clamping member 3′. The engaging member 31′ is substantially L-shaped and includes a vertical section 311′ extending from an inner face of the second end of the clamping member 3′ and a horizontal section 312′ perpendicular to the vertical section 311′, defining a space 313′ for releasably receiving a second end of the clamping member 4′. The clamping member 4′ can be moved to a position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 12 due to flexibility of the clamping member 4′. When the clamping member 4′ is released, the clamping member 4′ moves to a position shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 12 due to resiliency of the clamping member 4′. Thus, the second end of the clamping member 4′ is received in the space 313′. When opening of the hair clip is required, the user can move the clamping member 4′ sideways out of the space 313′. However, the clamping member 4′ is liable to disengage from the space 313′ via an open side a of the space 313′, failing to provide a reliable coupling effect between the clamping members 3′ and 4′. Furthermore, operation of the hair clip is not convenient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair clip providing improved engaging effect and improved hair clamping stability while allowing easy removal of the hair clip.

A hair clip according to the preferred teachings of the present invention includes a first clamping member having first and second ends. The second end of the first clamping member includes first and second lateral sides. The first end of the first clamping member is coupled to a second clamping member and movable between an open position and a closed position. An engaging member and a guide member are provided on an inner face of the second clamping member. The engaging member includes a first section extending from the inner face of the second clamping member and a second section extending transversely to the first section, defining a space between the first and second sections. A spacing between the guide member and the first section of the engaging member is equal to a width between the first and second lateral sides of the coupling portion. The guide member includes a top having an inclined surface. The inclined surface has increasing spacings to the engaging member toward the top of the guide member. When the first clamping member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the second lateral side of the coupling portion abuts against and slides along the inclined surface into the space, and the coupling portion is received between the first section of the engaging member and the guide member.

In a most preferred form, the first end of the first clamping member is integrally formed with the second clamping member as a single continuous monolithic piece. The first end of the first clamping member includes a bendable portion with a smaller thickness smaller than the remaining portion of the first end of the first clamping member. The bendable portion is bendable to move the first clamping member between the open position and the closed position. Furthermore, the first end of the first clamping member further includes an outer face having a groove. The second section includes an end distant to the first section and having a hook extending downward into the space. The hook is engaged in the groove when the first clamping member is in the closed position.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a hair clip according to the preferred teachings of the present invention with the hair clip in an open position.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the hair clip of FIG. 1, illustrating engaging of a first clamping member with a second clip member of the hair clip.

FIG. 3 is shows a perspective view illustrating a first step of engaging the first claming member with the second clamping member of the hair clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the hair clip of FIG. 1 with the first clamping member retained in place.

FIG. 5 shows another perspective view of the hair clip of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view illustrating use of the hair clip of FIG. 1 on a head of a user.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view illustrating hair clamping by the hair clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating opening of the hair clip.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a conventional hair clip.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the hair clip of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of another conventional hair clip.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view illustrating use of the hair clip of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A hair clip according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings and generally includes a first clamping member 1 and a second clamping member 2. The first clamping member 1 has a first end integrally formed with the second clamping member 2 as a single continuous monolithic piece. The first end of the first clamping member 1 includes a bendable portion 3 having a thickness smaller than the remaining portion of the first end of the first clamping member 1. The bendable portion 3 is bendable so that the first clamping member 1 can move between an open position disengage from the second clamping member 2 and a closed position engaged with the second clamping member 2. However, the first end of the first clamping member 1 can be coupled with the second clamping member 2 by other measures to allow releasable coupling between the first and second clamping members 1 and 2.

The first clamping member 1 further includes a coupling portion 11 on a second end thereof. The second end of the coupling portion 11 includes a groove 12 (FIGS. 3-5) on an outer face thereof. The second end of the coupling portion 11 includes first and second lateral sides 111 and 112. The first clamping member 1 further includes a resilient pressing portion 13 on an inner face thereof.

The second clamping member 2 includes an engaging member 21 and a guiding member 22 on an inner face thereof. The engaging member 21 is substantially L-shaped and includes a first section 211 extending from the inner face of the second clamping member 2 and a second section 212 extending transversely to the first section 211, defining a space 213 between the first and second sections 211 and 212 for receiving the first lateral side 111 of the coupling portion 11. The second section 212 includes an end distant to the first section 212 and having a hook 214 extending downward into the space 213. A spacing between the guide member 22 and the first section 211 of the engaging member 21 is generally equal to a width between the first and second lateral sides 111 and 112 of the coupling portion 11. The guide member 22 includes a top having an inclined surface 221. The inclined surface 221 has increasing spacings to the engaging member 21 toward the top of the guide member 22. A plurality of teeth 23 are formed on the inner face of the second clamping member 2.

In use, the first clamping member 1 is moved to the open position, so that the hair of a user can be placed between the first and second clamping members 1 and 2. Then, the first clamping member 1 is moved toward the second clamping member 2 with the second lateral side 112 of the coupling portion 11 abutting against and sliding along the inclined surface 221 into the space 213, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Note that the hook 214 of the engaging member 21 is engaged in the groove 12 of the first clamping member 1. After engagement, the coupling portion 11 is received between the first section 211 of the engaging member 21 and the guide member 22, preventing the coupling portion 11 from disengaging from the space 213. Thus, the coupling stability between the first and second clamping members 1 and 2 is enhanced, and the hair of the user is securely clamped between the first and second clamping members 1 and 2. Furthermore, the resilient pressing portion 13 of the first clamping member 1 and the teeth 23 of the second clamping member 2 improve the hair clamping effect.

With reference to FIG. 8, the first clamping member 1 can be moved sideways toward the guide member 2 to disengage the coupling portion 11 from the space 213 and to disengage the hook 214 from the groove 12, allowing the first clamping member 1 to be moved to the open position.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A hair clip comprising: a first clamping member including a first end and a second end, with the second end of the first clamping member including first and second lateral sides; a second clamping member including an inner face, with the first end of the first clamping member coupled to the second clamping member and movable between an open position and a closed position, with an engaging member and a guide member provided on the inner face of the second clamping member, with the engaging member including a first section extending from the inner face of the second clamping member and a second section extending transversely to the first section, defining a space between the first and second sections, with a spacing between the guide member and the first section of the engaging member equal to a width between the first and second lateral sides of the coupling portion, with the guide member including a top having an inclined surface, with the inclined surface having increasing spacings to the engaging member toward the top of the guide member, wherein when the first clamping member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the second lateral side of the coupling portion abuts against and slides along the inclined surface into the space, and the coupling portion is received between the first section of the engaging member and the guide member.
 2. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, with the first end of the first clamping member integrally formed with the second clamping member as a single continuous monolithic piece, with the first end of the first clamping member including a bendable portion with a thickness smaller than a remaining portion of the first end of the first clamping member, and with the bendable portion being bendable to move the first clamping member between the open position and the closed position.
 3. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, with the first end of the first clamping member further including an outer face having a groove, with the second section including an end distant to the first section and having a hook extending downward into the space, and with the hook engaged in the groove when the first clamping member is in the closed position. 